Revolving-hook sewing machine



A. D...SM ITH. REVOLVING HOOK SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATON FlLED IULYSO. !918.

1315368, I Patentewa 's, 1922.

4 SHEETS-'SHEET 1.

A. D. SMITH.

REVOLVING HOOK SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILE!) JULY30. 1918.

Patented May 9, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

A. D. sMTH.

REVOLVING HOOK SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATIDN FILED JULY 30 1918.

11,41 '5,2-68. Patenta& May 9, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- A. D. SMITH.

BEVOLVING HOOK SEWING MACHINE- AFPLICATON HLED JULY 30. 1918.

1,41 5,268, Patenta& May 9,1922.

' 4 SHEETS--SHEET 4.

autres states ALBERT n. saimir., or

REVOLVENG-OOK SEWING MACHINE. i

1,@1526&

Application filed July 30,

To (LZZ whom it mag cmoern Be it known that I, ALBERT D' 'Sirin-I, a citizen'ot the Unitedtates` residing; at Detroit, in the County of VV-yne and State ot Michigan, hare invented certain new and useful Improvements in Revolving-Hook SewingMachines, of: which the following is a specification. i e

This invention pertaining` in general to revolving hook sewing machines, is an improvement on that type of machine described in my Patent No. 12615170, known :IS a two-spool machine. 'iuch amar-hine is exemplified by the' provision ot :i lower thread receptacle adapted to ca'ry :in ordinary spool of thread as distinguished froni' shuttle machines and those which ca'ry a bobbin of relatively small Capacity upon which the lower thread must be wound 1 113111 a spool. The sewingmaehine described in said patent' is further characterized by its novel lower threadreceptacle which is designed to- Carry both domestic and 'foreign spools o'f a wide range of sizes, and. even to Carry a bal] of thread or yarn instead of a spool in cases where certainfancy-work or special forms of sewing are required.

;i lower thread carrier orreceptacle of this kind. in combination with a 'revoli'iur hooln necessarily requires that large loop ot upper thread be passed 'around the receptacle by the hook or loope'. And because o," the'conditions peculiar to revolving hook machines of this type `and especially when a rotary take-up is employed. tl'ethi'ead loop after being; cast off the hook is e -ceed-` ingly diiiicult to control without breaking: or puttng* unduetension on the thread;

This thread loop or loop end` before beings;

drawn up by the take-up has a' tejideney to twist, w hirl and catch on any near part ot the machine all ot which is augnented hy the increased momentum oi' the thread when Operating at high speed. In addition to 'the liability oi: breaking the thread under these untavorable conditions an unusual. tension isim'posed by twisting of the loop end. which results in imperte tt stitches The' primary object of the present invention is to provide: an improved. means tor controlling the thread passing around the lower thread receptacle, which shall posi-` tively guide the loop at every stage without` causing` undue tension on the thread, thereby precluding the occurrence of any undue Specification of Letters Patent.

Parent series.

nnrnorr, MICI-IIGAN.

Patented` May 9,192&

1918. Serial No. 241423.

slack or looseness in the loop which might impair the operation .in any respect. The manner of attaining complete control of this large loop as it is passed around the lower thread reoeptacle is fully set' torth in the following specification.

Further ohjects of 'my invention are to iniprove 'the Construction of the lower thread receptacle, thread tension and stationary support for the thread receptacle and to provide a rotary-hook structure having a detachable hook point, especially desirable as will appear hereinafter.

lVith the foregoing objects in mind- I have also aimed to so design the several parte that they are capable of production at a comparatively low cost and will practically and effectually serve the purposes desired of a commercially successful: sewing maehine.

Other objects and attendant advantages will be appreciated as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following description when cousidered in connection with the aceompanying drawings, in which i i t Figure` 1 `is an' end view of a sewing machine embodying my improvements;

Figs. 2 and 3, sectional' views taken suhstantially on the lines 2 and 3--3, respectively of 1;

Fig., L a rear View oi" the thread' receptacle removed from the machine;

Figs. 5 and@ viewsot the thread receptacle :froni opposite ends thereof;

'7, a detail plan view'ot the rotary hook with the reteining` ring attached:

Fig, 8, a face View of the 1'()ta'r3'.ll00i with the retaining ring; removed; i

Figs. 9 and 10, plan and face views, respectivelm of the retaining rin e Figsi 11, 12 and 13 plum :i 'and' side views, respectively, of the support` tor, the thread receptacle; and

Fig. 14:, a development ot ceptacle support.

Since one of the chief 'features of this in- 'vention resides in the control ot the relatively large loop thatiis passed around the lower thread receptacle, I have illustrated improvements in 'Full size, so that the the thread-redimensions of' the loop and the conditions' efficient, runs more smoothly and quietly, and requires less power to operate. Those parts, the particular construction of which is not important, consists of a work-plate 15, head 16, needle-bar 17, presser-bar 18 and a rotary take-up 19 having a single eccentrc thread pin 21. In this form of takeup, the upper thread 22 enters between the take-up disks at the lower portion thereof, being guided over a stud 23, passes over the thread pin 21 and leaves the take-up disls directly over the needle-way, being guided by a stationary finger 24, and then pa'sses through the eye of the needle. This particular rotary take-up forms the subject matter of my copendng application, Serial No. 25o,e51,'fi1ea` Aug. 20, 1918.

The feed mechanism is omitted as its particular Construction is not essential to my present improvements.

- As mentioned above, the lower thread is supplied from an ordinary spool, and the thread receptacle is constructed to carry spools of various shapes and sizes, and'thus the same thread receptacle will serve to carry either the ordinary domestic spool or the differently shaped foreign spool, and will also carry a ball of thread, or even yarn.

Thus the present machine may be used for various forms of fancy sewing impossihle to accomplish with ordinary machines, due mainly to the limitations imposed by the construction of their thread receptacles or holders and to their inability to properly 'control the thread. My improved thread receptacle, designated `generally by reference character 25 and shown in detail in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, is preferably in the form of an open-top case having downwardly converging front and back walls 26 and 27 and between and upon which a spool is adapted to revolve. These front and rear walls are oined by end walls 28 and 29, and through the lower end of these end walls is passed apivot member 31, which is sup` ported at its ends on lugs 32 on the stationary support designated generally by character 33. Thissupport is mounted on an annular race-way on the revolving-hook structure which will be described later The support 33 is shaped to provide an interioropening 34 in which the thread receptacle is disposed, and it will be noted that the thread receptacle is preferably 'supported i at a slight' inclination so that'its opened tops tilted toward the front of the machine to' on its pivot 31 to a thread-receivng position and .inwardly to 'the operative position shown in Fgs. 1 and 3. This latter position s 'is limited by contact of the laterally pro- 1,415,2ee u jecting abutment 37 on the wall 29 against the support 33, and 'movement forwardly is prevented by the adjacent spring stop 38, which engages the opposite end of the supporting member 33. Tn opening and closing the thread receptacle, this resilent element e 38 will be Sprung out of the way as will be manifest. The opposite end 28 of the receptacle is also provided with an upstanding resilientportion 39 adapted to bear against the adjacent wall of the member 33 to frictionally hold the thread receptacle in position, yet allowing it to be easily swung to its different positions. A cutaway 41 is formed in the front corner of the receptacle at the side thereof first approached by the loop when it is drawn down by the hook ex- Means is now provided for applying a tension to the lower thread as it leaves the receptacle 25 The thread spool is preferably positioned in the receptacle so that the thread is drawn from the underside of the spool toward the front wall 26 and passes through an eye 45 substantially inthe vertical plane of the needle-way. When threading the machine, the receptacle is swung to its open position, aspool of thread 'placed in the receptacle, and the loose thread end passed downwardly through the curved slot 46 to the eye 45 and entered beneath the resilient end 47 of a spring tension. This tension is 'in the form of a spring, the resilient end 47 of which is constantly urged against the front wall of the 'thread receptacle to impose a tension on the thread passing between said end and wall; The'opposite end of the spring is covered by a cap 48 having beveled edges so as not to obstruct the loop, and a single screw 49 passing through the cap 48 and the spring secures both of these parts to the receptacl'e; An intermediate adjusting screw 51 passing through the cap and the spring threadingly engages the front wall 26 and is adapted to be adjusted to vary the tension of the spring as will be manifest.

The member 33 which carries the thread receptacle is, in effect, a stationary shuttle. This member is preferably pressed from' sheet metal to substantially the shape shown in Fig. 14. This blank provides a cutaway 52, a loop spreader 53 and a projection 54 :from which extends fingers or arms 55, 56

y main body of the member 33, the finger 55 is turned upwardly to 'form a retaining finger eo-operating with a fixed part of the machine for holding the member 33 against rotation in the race-way, and the fingers 56 and 57 are respectively turned toward the main body portion in the manner shown to provide a oontinuous thread-guiding sur` race. the purpose ,of which' will be described later. Attention is called, however, particularly to Fig. 11 which shows that the threadguiding surface 58 extends continuously fromvside to side of the needle-way from a high point in front of the retaining finger 55 and inclines laterally toward both sides of the member 33, the finger 5? being turned downwardly a substantial distance alongone side of the member.

lVhen the stationary support is positioned in the race-way ot the rotary hook, it assumes the position shown in Fig. 1, the upstanding ,tinger 55 projecting into the i opening 59' in abar 61 fixed to the frame of the machine. The final loop end as it is drawnup passes between the finger 55 and a wall OI" the opening 59, and I prefe'r to face said finger with a resilient spring finger 62 so that this loop end is drawn between the resilient finger and stationar'y part so asto avoid a sharp pull on the thread at this point. The bar 61 is shaped to provide a depending thread-guiding portion 63` the I lower surface of which extends below and in close proximity to the rounded peak of the thread-guiding finger 44 on the thread receptacle as indicated 'in Figs. l and 2. The undersurface 64 of the depending portion 63 co-operates with the thread-guidinn surl aces ou the fing'er lal; in a nanner de scribed later;

Another stationary thread controller or guide is provided in the form of a Dart 65 fixed'to-a stationar part of the machine in 'front and at one side of the thread :receptacle and' extending inwardly to a point in :front of and in proximity to the uprirht portion ot the fing'er 57 and'thence upwardly and terminating in an arm 66 having: a thread- ,Q'uiding surface 67 disposed within the threadfinding surface 58 andinclined upwardly substantially parallel with the plane of the member and 'terminatine' substantially in the vertical plane ot the needle way, viewing Fig'. J. Thei unction ot this thread ;guide or controller will also appear later.

Coming' now to the rotary hool: structure and referrinp; particularly to Figs. 3 and '7 to 10 inclusive. itwill be seen that the annular bodyor ring' 68 is of' the usual Construction and is fixed to ashaft 69 suitably journaled con the frame of the machine. l'n this case, the shatt 69' is driven three revolutions to one revolution of the take-up; The book ring 68 is provided with an annular raceway 71, in which the receptaclesupporting member 33 is mounted, and a retaining ring 72 suitably Secured to the ring; 68 holds the member 33 in position. .l have provided on the inner surface of the retaining` ring a series of tangentially disposed indenture's 73 having Sharpened edges 'for the purpose ol" instantly cutting the thread ii by chance it should become engagedin the 'race-way.

Attention is called to the Construction ot the hook point 74. So far as I am aware the hook point has always been made integral withthe rerolving hook body or ring, and I have observed that in many instanccs where revolving-hook sewing machines 'operate inefectirely and break the thread. the real cause is due to the 'fact that the hooh has either been worn blunt at the point or broken off. Thus, it is commonly found that after arevolVing-hook sewing machine has been used :for a long` period, it will skip stitches break the thread and especially fray all silk thread. If it is known that the fault lies in the hook point the entire revolving body must be replaced by a new one which requires the attention of an expert to make such a change. This difiiculty and expense T have obviated by the provision of a revolving; hook structure having a detachable hook point which if worn or damaged can be quickly replaced. by any inexperienced op rator at a' comparatively small cost. Referring to Figs. 7 and' 8 it will be seen that the periphery ot the revolving-hook ring` 68 is cut away at 7 5 to receive the detachable book point, which is preferably in' the form of a steel stamping shaped to provide a shani( 76 fitting' in said cuta'way 75 and rizidly secured to the hook ring by means of screws 771 and further shaped to provide the hook poi nt 74 above mentionech to properly engage the loop formed by the needle. The retaining ring 72 overlaps the shank of the detachable hook as clearly shownin Fig. 7. So as to cover the joint between the shank and the hook ring. f ltwill be readily apparent that a hoolr point of this character may be quickly and easily detached' by any inexperienced operator', and that/ the cost of re- 'plaeinr a worn or blunted hook point amounts to simply the cost of thehoolritself insteadof the entire hook ring and the time of an experienced operator as tor1nerly 'Means is provided for preventinr retroaction ofthe rerolvin; hool( for the purpose described and claimed in my patent mentioned above consisting of a ball trietion stop 7& shown in Fig. 1 for engaging the periphery of the book ring: ,68.

Coming' now to the operation of myimprovements, the needle is threaded in the. usual'way, and a spool of thread is placed in the'receptacle 25 in the manner described above, with the thread emanating from the eye 45 and passing upwardly beneath the tension 47 and allowed. to simply hang forwardly over this tension spring sufiicient length to be gathered up by the loop of upper thread when the same is drawn up. The needle descends to its lowest point and then ascends the proper distance to form a small loop of upper thread, which the hook point 74 enters, revolving in a counter-clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 1. The hook carries the loop into contact with the spreader point 53, which divides the loop, throwing the outer half forwardly over the stationary receptacle support 33 'and the inner half rearwardly over said support. As the hook advances downwardly, carrying the loop, the take-up lets down just suficient thread to pass around the receptacle and its support. It will be manifest that in view of the comparatively large size of the thread receptacle an unusually large loop must be fol-med and this loop must be so controlled that after being cast off the hoolrpoint it will be impossible for the loop to foul the hook or to twist, snarl or catch on any part of the machine. In order to completely control the loop at each stage and without imposing an unusual tension on the loop, which would be detrimental to the action, I have shaped the thread reeeptacle in the peculiar manner described above and have provided various stationary thread controllers, each having a definite function, as will be presently seen. As the hook point descends, the outer and inner portions of the loop will engage and be spread outwardly by the diverging outer and inner walls of the thread receptacle. When the hook reaches approxi- .nately the point X the full amount of slack has been drawn down, and at this point the greatest dimension must be embraced by the loop. At this point the outer portion of the loop drops into the cutaway 41 formed in the end of the thread receptacle first approached by the loop, and` relieves the strain on the thread while it is being drawn over the back wall and the forward end of the thread receptacle., 'Asthe hook point ascends, the forward or outer portion of the loop comes into contact with the lower end of the stationary arm 65, which draws the thread inwardly and downwardly and slightly advances the thread along the sur v face 4:2 and also advances the end of the. loop tion by the surface 42 on the thread receptacle and between the inner edge 67 of the stationary arm 66 'and the outer surface i 5 8 of the arm 57. The loop end will now be drawn up by the take-up and will be held by the several guide surfaces in a spread-out condition so as to preclude the tendenoy of any slack formation which might swirl or twist; Thus the loop end is drawn up over the forwardly positioned surfaces 43 and 58 and the inner surface 67 it being especially ;noted that the surface 58 is continuous and bars any approach of either the loop or lower thread to the needle-way or the path of the hoolr point, which while the loop is still guided on the three surfaces mentioned, moves. through .its upper cycle and passes the needle-way. As the loopis drawn up still further, it will first leave the surface 67 and then be drawn over the rounded top of the finger 44, it being manifest that during these later stages the loop will be guided in constant contact with the surface 43 and against flying upwardly by reason of the guide surface 64 of the stationary arm' 63. When the loop end finally draws over the end of the finger 4:& it is so small and the take-up pin is rising so rapidly that the very short loop end will be quickly drawn up past the spring finger 62 and the stitch completed.

From theforegoing it will be seen that a loop is passed around a comparatively large thread receptacle and positively controlled at each stage in a manner, which by practical demonstration shows that no unusual tension is imposed on the loop and that even the finest of silk threads are controlled just as effectively as the heavier threads. While the description of the action must necessarily for the purpose of elarity consider the position of the thread loop at different stages as it were, it should be understood that the action is a continuous one and that the loop is passed around the receptacle with such rapidity and at such high speed that its course, when the machine isin operation is not distinguishable. With the result of this control of the thread. better stitches are formed because the loop is drawn up straight and the full tension of the take up may be applied in drawing the stitch tight rather than for untwisting a badly snarled loop as commonly occurs in many types of rotary-hook sewing machines now on the market. Attention is also called to the fact that regardless of the length of the loose end of the lower thread hanging from the thread receptacle, there is no chance of this loose end being caught by the revolving hook and being drawn into the race-way, a common occurrence in other types of revolving-hook machines if. a loose lower thread end is left. In the present case, this thread end will be held out of thehook path by the thread-guiding surface58.

It is believed that the foregoing conveys.

a clear understanding of the principles and operation of my improvements and of the arrangement Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invent'ion as expressed in the appended clams.

I claim: i

1. In a revoiving hook sewing machine, the combination with a revolving hook, of a thread receptacle within the revolving hook, having an outer'wali adapted to Swing from an outer open position to an inner operative position, said outer wall having a threadguiding surface extending' above the thread body proper within the reeeptacle for guiding the loop end after it has been cast off the hook;

2. In arevolving hook sewing machine, the coinbination with a revolving hook, of a thread receptacie within the revolving hook, having an outer wall adapted to Swing from an outer open position to an inner operative position, said outer wall having a threadguiding surface extending above the thread body proper withinthe receptacle, and 'a depending stationary thread guide in co-operaative relation with said upstanding guiding surface for guiding the loop and holding the thread against said upstanding surface after the loop has been cast off the hook.

3. In a revolving hook sewing machine, the combination with a revolving hook, of a thread receptacle within the revolving hook, having an outer wali'adapted to swing from an outer open position to an inner operative position, and a thread-g'iding surface on said outer wall for guiding the loop after it has been cast off the hook and is being drawn up.

4. In a revolving hook seWing machine, the combination with a revolvng hook, of a thread receptacle within the revolving hook, having an outer wall adapted to swing from an outer open position to an inner operative position, and a thread-guiding surface on said outer wall for guiding theloop after it has been cast oti' the hook and is being drawn up, said surface being disposed at the side of the thread receptacle first approached by the loop and eXtending upwardly above the thread receptacle.

5. In a revoiving hook sewing machine, the combination with a revolving hook, of a thread receptacle within the revolving hook, having an outer wall adapted to swing from an outer open position to an inner operative position, and a thread-guiding surface on said outer wall for guiding the loop after it has been cast off the hook and is being drawn up, said surface being disposed at the side of the thread reeeptacle first approached by the loop and extending from a lower point within the upper and lower ends of the thread receptacle, upwardly and above the thread receptacle proper.

6. In a revolving book sewing machine, the combination with a revolving hook, of a thread receptacle within the revolving hook,

having an outer wall adapted to Swing from an outer open position to an inner operative position, said' outer wali having a eutaway in its end first approached by the loop whereby to provide certain clearance for the loop as it is drawn around the thread receptacie.

7. In a revolying hooir sewing machine the eombination with a revolving hook, of an open-top thread receptacle within the hoo-k-way having a front wall adapted to Swing from an outer open position to an inner operative position, a stationary thread controller for guiding the loop inwardly above theopen top of the receptacle, and a guide on the receptacle for guiding the loop after it leaves said stationary thread controller.

8. In a revolving hook sewing machine, the combination With a revolving hook having a race-way, of a thread receptacle, and a support for the thread receptacie mounted on said race-way and carrying a thread-guiding surface standing out from the support and extending continuously from the side the hook approaches the needle-way to and beyond said needle-way, for preventing the loop from being caught by the hook.-

9. In a revoiving hook sewing machine, the combination with a revolving hook and a thread holder positioned within the hookway, of a continuous thread-guiding surface within the circumference of the hockway and spaced horizontaily from the vertical plane thereof, said surface extending from a point in proximity to the loop eastoif, upwardiy and then toward and past the needle-way.

10. In a revolving hook sewing machine, the combination with a revolving hook having a race-way, of a thread holder, a support for the thread holder mounted on said race-way, a stationary thread controller for drawing the end portion of the loop inwardly above the thread holder at the front of the support, and another stationary thread controller having a guide surface above and forwardly of that on the first controller and extending across and to both sides of the needle-way.

11. In a revolving hook sewing machine, the combination with a revoiving hook, a thread holder within the book-way, having an upstanding thread-guiding surface 'forwardly of said book-way, a stationary thread controlling surface forwardly of said hook-way, and a second thread-controlling surface positioned intermediate and inwardiy from said surface on the thread holder and said stationary surface whereby to draw the loop inwardly while it is guided on said surface on said thread holder and said first mentioned stationary thread-controlling surface.

12. In a revolving hook sewing machine,

the combination with a revolving hook having a race-Waya thread hoider, 'and 'a support for the thread hoider cornprising` substantialy annuiar part mounted on the race-'Way and having at its upper end a ;fior- Wardly turned portion provided Wii th fin gers extending oppositeiy from said torwardiy turned portion and shaped to provide thread-guiding surface&

13. in a revolving hooh sewing machine a revolving hook body having a race-Way in which is mounted a thread-guiding nieans said body having a peripherai cutaway and a hook point the shank oi j which is detachably Secured in saidcutaway at one side of said race-Way the' hook point (EX-- tending beyond and to the opposite side ot the race-Way. i

M. In a revoiving hook sewing machine, a revoiving hook body having a 1.'ace-way in 'which is nounted a thread-guiding means, said hooy having a peripherai cutaway, a hook point, the shank of which is detachabiy Secured in said cutaway at one side 'of said race way, the hook point extending beyond and to the opposite side of the race-way and a retaining ring detachaby connected to theface of the revolving hook body and forning one side of the race-Way and extending over and coverng a portion oi' the shanit of the detachable hook.

15. In a sevving machine, the combination With a revolving hook structure', of a thread holder, and a support for the thread holder assooiated with 'the revoiving hook structure and having a thread guiding surface disposed at the high portion of the hook point travel and extending continuously froni front to rear of the needle-vvay beyond the same at the open side of the' hook structure. i

16. In a sewing machine, a revolving hook body having a raceway, a thread holder, `a support for the thread holder mounted on the raceway and having a central aperture through which the thread holder extends, said support having 'arms extending upwardly froni the front and back of the needleway and joined. together above the thread carrier and carrying means for holding.: the thread carrier support against rotation. c

17. In asewing machine, a revolvinghook body having a raceWay a thread holder support mounted on said raceWay, a thread receptacle pivotally mounted on said support and having an 'open thread receiving top Whereby the receptacle may be swung outwardly and inwardly from a threadreceiving position to an operative thread-holding position and outstanding arms on said support extending from 'points adjacent to the 'front and back ends of said receptacle, upwardiy and joined together above the receptacie' and carrying an upstanding part i adapted for holding the support against rotation. i

ALBERT D. SMITH. 

